LeBron too much for Knicks in Cavaliers win

APCleveland star LeBron James (23) finished with 47 points in the Cavaliers' win over the Knicks. CLEVELAND — LeBron James scored 47 points, including 24 straight for Cleveland in the first half, and the Cavaliers held off the New York Knicks 113-106 on Saturday night for their 11th straight victory.

James, who historically has saved some of his best performances for the Knicks, set a franchise record with 35 points in the first half thanks to his remarkable streak. He finished one point shy of his season high while adding eight rebounds and eight assists.

He needed just 5:29 to score 24 straight — 16 in a row to end the first quarter and eight straight to start the second. He closed the first quarter with four 3-pointers in the final two minutes, including a pair from 32 feet in the final 37 seconds.

James celebrated after the first quarter by charging toward the fans and throwing open his arms as the sellout crowd inside the Q roared. With James’ free agency pending this summer and the woeful Knicks dreaming of him in New York blue and orange next season, the Knicks could only stand by and watch James embrace his hometown fans.

But the Cavaliers still had to fight to hold on in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland led by as much as 24 in the first half, but the Knicks cut the deficit to 109-106 on a basket by Jordan Hill with 2:19 to play.

James countered with a jumper from just inside the 3-point line, then grabbed the rebound following a miss by Al Harrington and stuck another jumper to make it 113-106 with less than a minute to play.

Nate Robinson, in his second start at point guard this season, had 26 points for New York. David Lee added 20 points and Harrington had 16 off the bench, including nine in the fourth.

Shaquille O’Neal scored 19 points, Anthony Parker had 11 and J.J. Hickson added 10 for Cleveland, which is two shy of tying the franchise record for consecutive wins it set last season.

Big games against the Knicks are nothing new to James. He had 52 points on Jan. 4, 2009, in New York, when he later had a triple-double taken away after video review. He scored 50 against them March. 5, 2008, and he had 45 at Cleveland on Nov. 2, 2007.

During his only visit to Madison Square Garden this season, James had 19 in the first quarter and the Cavs scored 40 in what became a 100-91 Cleveland victory on Nov. 6.

NOTES: Walt Wesley previously held Cleveland’s record for points in a half with 34. ... Cavaliers PG Mo Williams began shooting this week as he continues to come back from a shoulder injury. Williams is due to return sometime in early March. ... Shaquille O’Neal greeted Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni in the hallway prior to the game with a kiss on the cheek. O’Neal played for D’Antoni in Phoenix. ... Knicks G Larry Hughes was scratched with a strained left big toe.